Thining of going on the dole

rob880616

I'm living with my parents and working for them aswell, the business is going great but i end up working 60- 100hrs a week and i can't handle it anymore.

i've been there ten years, i dont have a place of my own because i didn't see the point in buying or renting a place i will use 3 times a week much to my dismay.

I've had enough, i'm feeling very burnt out and i was wondering whats the best way i can go on the dole and get rent allowance. I have money saved and a nice car (which i will sell) but i would like time out to figure out what i want to do and hopefully keep some of that money to invest in a new idea which i hope will materialise. I dont want to be a leecher and only plan on spending 6 months on the dole but i dont want it to cost me 10-20k to take a short sabatical. Before i take the plunge into unemployment what can i expect?

Our man in Havana

Try the work forum

foxy06

You wont last that long out of work you will be pulling your hair out and if you do last that long you will find it hard to break away from the social welfare system which really should be a last resort why not work part time somewhere less stressful and a bit fun like a nightclub or something? At least until your idea materialises

seamus

You're prohibited from applying for unemployment benefit for nine weeks if you voluntarily leave your job.

Quite rightly, you can't just go on the dole because you don't feel like working for a while. You will be asked to provide proof that you are actively seeking employment. The dole is meant to be a short-term income supplement for people who are between jobs, not a cash source for people who don't want to work.

Your best bet is to cut down on your work. Take two weeks off, go on holiday or just sleep in, whatever. Chill out. Then return to work part-time. This gives you a cash flow while you decide what it is you want to do, and the time to pursue any ideas.

shoegirl

Theoretically it might seem like a great idea, but unless you are on the minimum wage 170 a week isn't much to live on. Also if they feel you aren't really interested in working they will cut everything off, including your rent allowance, leaving you unable to pay your rent. How much they hassle you will depend on where you live and what you do, but if you are under 25 they will question why you are moving out since you are not strictly in need of housing.

Would suggest a good break or holiday and maybe a working holiday to get a break, clear your head and get things back in perspective.

the_syco

rob880616 wrote:

I dont want to be a leecher and only plan on spending 6 months on the dole

It'll take about 2 months to get the first payment, tbh.

rob880616 wrote:

hopefully keep some of that money to invest in a new idea which i hope will materialise

The funny part: you'll proberly have to work

rob880616 wrote:

60- 100hrs a week

to get it off the ground:D:(

=-=

Also, when on the dole, your family will be bugging you to work "a few hours".

TBH, my advice to you is to tell them that you'd like to work less hours. If they say no, simply move out, and use the experience to work in sales, either in a shop (if its not family owned, you'll be working a 39 hour week), or via telesales.

Moonbeam

"but if you are under 25 they will question why you are moving out since you are not strictly in need of housing." that is extremely arguable.
I don't see what difference being over or under 25 makes to living with your parents,other factors like laziness and finance are a bit more improtant here.
The fact that you have lived there up until now and suddenly when you are possibley entitled to rent allowance are are moving out should make you ineligble too.


Get a simple easy job in a shop or something,do your few ohurs every day and relax and use your free time to plan your next move.